Meghan Markle Dealt Another Blow As 'The Bench' Isn't Carried In Queen's Online Bookshop

Jul 12, 2021

After a quiet period out of the press, Meghan Markle has had a very busy last month indeed. After giving birth to her and Prince Harry's second child, a daughter named Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, on June 4, the Duchess of Sussex released her very first children's book titled "The Bench" just a few days later. 

The story began as a poem that Markle wrote to Harry one Father's Day before it was turned into a children's book with gorgeous illustrations by Christian Robinson. Released on June 8, it didn't take long for "The Bench" to become a #1 New York Times bestseller, proving that Markle's talents lie in much more than just acting. 

Since then, the duchess addressed the book's success on her and Harry's website for the Archewell Foundation, and she gave an NPR interview about its release — her first since her and Harry's controversial interview with Oprah Winfrey in March. Speaking about "The Bench," Markle enlightened fans about how the book came to be, revealing that it was created specifically for her husband and son. 

But despite being part of the royal family, it's come to light that Markle's debut children's book is not being stocked in the queen's online bookshop. Some media outlets have reported this as a snub, but it seems there might be a valid reason for this.

The only children's books stocked in the Royal Collection Shop are those in which beloved characters such as Paddington Bear and Peppa Pig visit the queen or London. Since "The Bench" is about the love between a diverse group of fathers and sons, it makes sense that it doesn't fit into the royal bookshop's thematic requirement. Let's take a look.

It's been reported that Meghan Markle's debut children's book "The Bench" is not being offered for sale on the queen's online bookshop. But although this might suggest a snubbing of the Duchess of Sussex's first children's book, it's likely there is another reason that it's missing from the site. Of the nine children's titles offered in the Royal Collection Shop, including a book about Peppa Pig and another about Paddington Bear, it seems that the shared theme is that each book depicts a character either meeting the queen or visiting London. 

Since "The Bench" is neither set specifically in London nor features a character meeting the queen, it actually makes sense that it isn't being offered for sale on the website. Nevertheless, considering Markle is a member of the royal family, it wouldn't be strange to see her debut book offered for sale there, but it's also not so scandalous that it's not.

However, despite "The Bench"'s popularity in the United States, it does appear that the book hasn't received as warm a welcome in the U.K. Released on June 8 in various countries around the world including the U.S., U.K., Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, India, and South Africa, the book instantly topped America's children's picture book bestseller list. This prompted Markle to write a personal note to her readers and thank them for supporting her debut book.

Posting to the Archewell Foundation website, Markle revealed that the book began as a Father's Day poem that was written for Prince Harry before it was expanded into a children's book with watercolor illustrations by Christian Robinson that capture "moments of love and shared experiences between a diverse group of fathers and sons." 

On the Archewell website, Markle wrote herself:

“While this poem began as a love letter to my husband and son, I’m encouraged to see that its universal themes of love, representation and inclusivity are resonating with communities everywhere. In many ways, pursuing a more compassionate and equitable world begins with these core values."

She continues:

"Equally, to depict another side of masculinity — one grounded in connection, emotion, and softness — is to model a world that so many would like to see for their sons and daughters alike." 

Despite the book's success in the United States, the Daily Star reports that "The Bench" sold only 3,212 copies in the United Kingdom in its first week of distribution. It went on to add that the book dropped 95 places in one week on Amazon's top 100 books in the U.K., with the online retailer discounting its price by close to 40%.

However, Metro details a supply issue between the book's publisher, Penguin Random House, and the country's biggest bookseller, Waterstones, which could have had an impact on the book's low sales. It appears that the publisher has limited its credit with Waterstones, which means the bookseller cannot order as many copies of titles as it previously was able to. This would have no doubt impacted the availability of "The Bench" in the U.K. Furthermore, in-store displays were affected, which sparked fears that the title could be hidden from customers.

Regardless, "The Bench" has been met with mixed reviews from critics and customers. Some have praised the book's inclusive and heartfelt message, while others have criticized Markle's writing and the fact that the former actress has entered the literary world.  

Did you read Meghan Markle's debut children's book "The Bench"? If so, what were your thoughts on it? Pass on this article so others can stay up to date with the news too.